Bangladesh News

She clung tight to his neck. With her big round eyes, she gave us a cursory glance and then nibbled at the grape she was holding so delicately with her long, beautiful fingers. Then she saw the apple in my hand and immediately abandoned her grape to reach out.

She felt the apple around and explained her joy in a sharp trilling voice. She did not like the cameras much and hid her face in the chest of Dr Anwar Hossain, the zoologist, and trilled. She was wondering why we were there, and why so many people. She found safety in the warmth of the human body. Probably she felt it much like her lost mother from whom she was separated some 10 days ago.

And where is her mother? Nobody knows. Probably she was killed and eaten up by the Tipra people. Probably the mother just left her behind, which is unusual for a primate, when people chased them. Nobody can tell that exactly.

The Phayre’s Langur, locally known as Chasmapora Banor (spectacled monkey) for the white marks round its eyes set in the jet black coat, was rescued by some locals from a Tipra man in Bishamoni of Srimongol. It was only about two months old. Then it was brought to Sitesh Babu in Srimongol town.

Sitesh Babu maintains his own private zoo. But it is in a pathetic condition. Phayre’s Langur is a globally threatened primate and in Bangladesh it is critically endangered.

“Its population is declining very fast and the present total number may not exceed 200,” Dr Anwar told us as we were travelling to Srimongol to rescue the animal. “Habitat loss and poaching for its gallstones believed to have medicinal value are leading to its fast extinction.”

The wildlife circle of the forest department has recently set up a rescue centre, but it has not been used since. Dr Anwar thought it would be a good place to keep the baby langur until it is fit enough to be reintroduced in the forest.

We carried the baby to our car. She sat there happily on my lap and trilled. She looked around with curious eyes, and shuddered as the AC was put to full blast. In forest, you don’t get air conditioners.

As the car started rolling the langur became agitated; she screeched and jumped from one lap to another. Her eyes round with excitement.

“Cool down, my baby. Cool down,” Sitesh was trying to soothe the langur. She then hid under his arm.

When we entered the Lawachhera forest, the langur became excited again. She looked at the trees and howled. She knew forest is where she belongs.

The rescue centre sits inside the forest, a one-storey building with caged rooms. The langur baby would be the first resident of the centre.

A room had been prepared for the primate with thick tree branches, car tyres and ropes so that she could play and learn the life skills. She looked inside the room with incredulous eyes and clutched to Dr Anwar’s chest. He took her gently off his chest and put her on a branch. She protested. Now she was sobbing loudly just like a human baby, breathing heavily.

We tried to shove her onto the tree branch. She screeched. We quickly put her there and moved back. She gave out a loud wail, ran along the rope and jumped on Sitesh’s chest. She held him tightly and sobbed.

“Meye, eita to tomar ghor. Kaindo na. (Baby, this is your home, don’t cry),” Sitesh patted her head buried into the fold of his shirt. “Meye, tumi vala thakba (girl, you will live well here). Ami tomake roj dekhia jamu (I will visit you every day).”

Sitesh could not say anymore. His voice choked. He gave her an apple. She would not take it.

We suddenly took her off, put her on the branch and shot out of the room. The door clamped tightly.

The langur screeched and wailed. She was desperately hanging onto the wire net and looking at us with her pleading eyes.

We did not stay there. We were walking down the dirt road. She started sobbing loudly again.

We were walking fast, but faster travelled her cry. But we knew, one day the little girl would be a nice, young woman and then walk away into the forest where she belongs.